The CSX Transportation Safety Train, a mobile classroom and hands-on training platform for first responders, rolled into Ocala this week for three days of training on handling railway emergencies.
About 60 local firefighters, along with hazmat team and technical rescue personnel from Marion County Fire Rescue and Ocala Fire Rescue, had classroom instruction and hands-on training on the seven-car Safety Train. Work wrapped up Thursday afternoon.
OFR Battalion Chief Mike Magee was at a training session Thursday that covered demonstration equipment, such as tank car access valves contained in domes known as “man ways,” or access ports on top of the cars.
“We looked at the valves and identified the different types and the liquid and vapor valves,” he said.